Chile floods: millions of people without water in Santiago

Millions of people are without water after heavy rains struck Chile over the weekend during the countrys usually dry summer months, leaving three people dead and at least 19 missing.

The rains, which caused rivers to overflow their banks in mountain valleys near Chiles capital, Santiago, had isolated 373 people, the Onemi emergency service said late on Sunday.

The drinking-water supply for over a million households in Santiago had been affected, and Aguas Andinas, the company that provides water to the capital, said rains were making repairs difficult. Agence France-Presse estimated four million people were affected.

Emergency teams are working on the ground to connect with isolated persons and re-establish the water supply wherever possible, Chilean president Michelle Bachelet wrote on Twitter.

In the OHiggins region, south of Santiago, a 12-year-old girl was killed when a landslide swept away the car in which she was travelling.